The Way I See It

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. once observed, “…nothing in this world is ever final — no one ever ends — we keep on bouncing back and forth in time, we go on and on ad infinitum….” Instead of an attempt to define his theory of time, to which this 1970 New York Times quote is usually credited, Vonnegut’s observation could also be aptly directed towards the way things work in Washington, DC and a lot of state capitals across this nation.

As this issue of Today’s Boiler hits your desk, we likely know with a little more certainty and finality what is in store for the ever-diminishing numbers likely to be affected by the EPA’s National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area and Major Sources: Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Boilers, otherwise known as EPA’s ICI-BMACT rules. If you own a boiler or boiler system, and you are not aware of the ICI-BMACT rules from EPA, get in touch with the company that made your boiler, installed your boiler, or maintains/services or repairs your boiler. They will know if and how you are affected by these rules.

And, if you want clarity and informed judgment on what you need to do and how you can go about doing it and you don’t know where to turn, use the ABMA as your go-to resource.

A member company of the American Boiler Manufacturers Association is not just another steam, hot water, or combustion equipment company. It is part of a tradition of excellence and signals its exceptional commitment and obligation to the market, its customers, and to the public to provide safe, efficient, clean, and reliable hot water, comfort heating, process steam, heat recovery, and electricity-generating steam systems.

If you’re indeed affected by the rules slated for unveiling in late spring/early summer, compliance with EPA’s final-final ICI-BMACT Rules can be achieved with existing, affordable, state-of-the-art, technologically-advanced, and fuel-flexible products, along with innovatively designed and engineered application solutions, provided by members of the ABMA — companies with decades of combined experience and expertise in meeting tough, state, local, regional, and national air quality codes, standards, and regulations with innovative, and real-world design solutions … all ready and able right now to help you to comply with any new rules in a timely and affordable manner. Labor and materials costs are currently stable and domestic boiler, combustion, and emissions-controls equipment manufacturing capacity is available now to service the full range of compliance options available under any new, more flexible rules as are anticipated through EPA’s filings this spring.

One final thought. As we careen headlong into the 2012 general elections, it is very easy to succumb to cynicism over choices, over the indolence of incumbency, over candidates’ willingness and inability to deal truthfully with facts, over partisan pandering, and over the excessive role money plays in the entire process. And, as the pundits remind us that the outcome of this tortuous process we have to endure over the next few weeks is unlikely to provide any additional long-term clarity, certainty, or leadership than we already have, it is even easier to let ourselves tune out and turn off. For the well-being of the Republic, however, please remember and take solace in this admonition by noted educator Robert Hutchins: “The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment.” Do your part, then…for the sake of what is still the greatest country on the globe. TB

Randy Rawson is president and chief executive officer of the American Boiler Manufacturers Association. Contact him at randy@abma.com.

Events

ON DEMAND In this second of a five part series, we will discuss the following generator capacity and other key issues to consider when specifying, selecting and installing an emergency back-up power system

Many engineers tend to avoid or delegate the nitty gritty of a ground source heat pump system, from soil moisture effects to building system (im) balance. It's time for designers to get in the loop. Learn more about Grounded In Reality in the December issue. Other topics in the December issue include health care HVAC, Boilders, check out the Back2Basics, and more.